HISTORY

In 1942, the Rodeo welcomed the Show’s first entertainer, the  “Singing Cowboy,” Gene Autry and the Calf Scramble program. The Calf Scramble takes place in the rodeo arena with several young students outnumbering loose calves. The student who catches a calf receives a certificate to purchase a registered beef heifer or market steer to show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo the following year.

News of the Houston Fat Stock Show traveled as the first trail ride started on horseback from Brenham, Texas to Houston in 1952.

In 1954, the Houston Rodeo became RCA-sanctioned (now PRCA – Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association).

In 1957, the Show presented its first major educational scholarship – a $2,000 award – to Houstonian Ben Dickerson.

In 1961, the Houston Fat Stock Show became the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo before introducing the new “Bowlegged H” logo in 1966. That same year, the Show moved from the Sam Houston Coliseum to the Astrodome, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The organization also created the School Art program to support young aspiring artists.

Elvis, barbecue and scholarships – that is what the 1970s was about for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1970, Elvis Presley graced the Show stage in the Astrodome. That same year, the Show pledged an annual commitment of $100,000 to various Texas colleges in support of resarch studies.

In 1974, the first World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest was held.

Before the decade was over, all four-year $4,000 scholarships were increased to $6,000 awards.

Prior to 1983, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo solely funded the construction of the exhibiton facilities on park grounds. In 1983, the expansion of the Astroarena was partially funded by the Houston Sports Association and Harris County.

Three years later, the State of Texas celebrated its 150th birthday with the help of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Show was one of the few associations to be marked as an official organization of the Texas Sesquicentennial Assocation.

In 1989, the Show scholarship program grew to include the Houston Metropolitan area.

The 90s welcomed two Georges – U.S. President George H.W. Bush and country musician George Strait. The Rodeo launched the website, made its debut on television and reached 1 million in paid Rodeo attendance.

In 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and other world leaders visited the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for the Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations. The Show held a special rodeo in July, in addition to its annual rodeo in March.

In 1999, the City of Houston became home of a new NFL franchise, the Houston Texans. The Show then became invovled with Houston NFL Holdings and Harris County to build a new Rodeo/football stadium.

The final rodeo performance in the Astrodome featured country legend George Strait in 2002 before the Show moved to its new 70,000-seat, retractable roof stadium. The Show introduced the first Wine Competition and Auction as well as created the new RODEOHOUSTON Super Series format. The Super Series included champions receiving a minimum of $50,000.

For the first time, all junior market auctions, the School Art Auction and the Wine Auction topped a million dollars each. In 2007, the Show celebrated its 75th anniversary, known as the “Year of the Volunteer” as well as a 50th anniversary of its educational programs. A year later, the Show awarded more than $1 million to both Texas FFA and 4-H scholarship recipients.

In the past 14 years, the Show has welcomed more than 2 million people each year. People came to see the world’s largest livestock show, carnival, horse show, rodeo and more. The Cinch RODEOHOUSTON Super Shootout: North America’s Champions debut as an invitation-only, one-day event featuring champion athletes from the top U.S. and Canadian rodeos.

In 2012, the Show raised student scholarships to four-year $18,000 scholarships.

George Strait performed his last performance in a special concert-only performance with Martina McBride and the Randy Rogers Band. The concert set an all-time paid attendance record for any event in NRG Stadium with 80,020 people.